Philly pol floats idea for city-owned casino

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — One of Philadelphia's congressmen says the city should place a bet on itself.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady believes Philadelphia should open a casino and use the money to fund the School District of Philadelphia and the city's pension plan.

Brady tells the Philadelphia Daily News the casino could be built on city-owned land under the Walt Whitman Bridge in South Philadelphia.

Such a plan faces long odds, however. The deadline to submit an application to the state Gaming Control Board is next week and Brady's idea includes a ballot question to approve $500 million in borrowing to get it built. That wouldn't be possible until May.

Three developers have publicly announced proposals for the open license.